Lina's POV
The weeks following our visit to Teodoro blur together in a strange rhythm. During the day, Rio becomes the perfect fiancé whenever we step outside his penthouse. At charity events and business dinners, he's attentive and romantic, his hand always finding mine, his eyes soft when he looks at me. But the moment we return home, he transforms back into the cold, distant CEO who speaks to me only through Patricia or Maria.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm dating two different men, and I'm falling for both of them while being rejected by the one that matters most—the real Rio who only emerges when we're alone.
"Miss Salvacion?" Patricia appears at my bedroom door with her usual professional smile. "Mr. Kalinawan would like to see you in his office. He has something important to discuss."
My stomach drops. Important discussions usually mean changes to our agreement or new public events I need to get ready for. Rio sits behind his desk, wearing a stylish dark suit and looking perfect He doesn't glance up, his fingers flying across his laptop keyboard with calculated focus.
"Sit," he says, without a smile or hello.
I sit across from his desk, feeling like I'm in trouble. Which, I suppose, isn't far from the truth.
"The meeting with Teodoro was successful," he says, finally looking up. His expression is completely unreadable. "The investment is moving forward as planned."
"That's wonderful," I say, though his tone suggests this conversation is far from over.
"Which means you've fulfilled your part of our arrangement admirably." He slides a folder across the desk to me. "I've had my legal team prepare some documents."
My heart sinks. He's probably ending our contract early now that he has his grandfather's approval. I open the folder with trembling hands, expecting termination papers.
Instead, I find incorporation documents for Salvacion Medical Marketing, business licenses, and what looks like... ownership papers?
"I don't understand," I whisper, staring at the papers.
"It's a marketing firm," Rio says, his voice still coldly professional. "Specialized in medical technology communications. Fully funded, staffed, and operational. You're the CEO."
I look up at him, shocked. "Rio, I can't—"
"You can. You will." He stands and moves to the window, presenting me with his back. "The company is already taking on clients. Medical device manufacturers who need help connecting with patients. Hospitals looking to improve their patient communication. The work you said you wanted to do."
Tears blur my vision as I flip through the documents. It's everything I ever dreamed of—my own company, my own staff, the chance to make a real difference in healthcare marketing. But his delivery is so clinical, so cold, like he's discussing a stock acquisition rather than changing my entire life.
"Why?" I ask softly.
His shoulders tense. "Because it's good business. Your work at the charity events impressed several potential investors. Having a successful businesswoman as a fiancée reflects better on my image than having a mid-level marketing coordinator."
The words sting, even though I know this is just his way of protecting himself. He's giving me an incredible gift while making it sound like a calculated move.
"Thank you," I say, because what else can I say? "This is... amazing."
"Patricia will handle the transition. You start Monday." He turns back to his laptop, effectively dismissing me. "Your new office is downtown. You'll have your own staff, your own driver, your own security detail. Everything a CEO needs."
There it is. The real reason behind his generosity. With my own company and office, I'll be out of his space during the day, making our living arrangement less complicated.
"Of course," I say quietly, gathering the papers. "I'll be out of your way."
Something flickers in his expression, but it's gone before I can identify it.
Lina's POV - One Week Later
The black Mercedes pulls up to the sleek downtown building that houses Salvacion Medical Marketing, and I still can't believe this is my life. My driver, Carlos, is a professional man in his fifties who opens my door with military precision. My bodyguard, Marcus Torres—a different Marcus entirely from my ex-fiancé—follows at a respectful distance as we enter the building.
"Good morning, Miss Salvacion," the building's security guard greets me with a smile. "Your team arrived early today. They're excited about the presentation."
I nod, smoothing out my Armani suit. Everything about my new life screams success—the designer clothes, the luxury car, the staff that treats me with genuine respect rather than the careful politeness I received at Rio's penthouse.
My office takes up half the top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the bay. The conference room is filled with the most talented marketing professionals money can hire, and my personal assistant—not butler, as I'd initially expected—is Elena Rodriguez, a sharp woman in her thirties who manages my schedule with military precision.
"Your 10 o'clock is here," Elena announces, sticking her head into my office. "Diego Herrera from Barcelona. He's on board with the international partnership."
Diego Herrera is exactly what I need - a visionary partner with experience. He's warmly handsome with kind brown eyes and a gentle smile that calms me. Unlike Rio's intimidating polish, Diego feels like a safe haven.
"Miss Salvacion," he says, accepting my handshake. "I've been following your work since the cardiac technology campaign. Your way of making medical progress more about people is just what Europe needs.
"Please, call me Lina. And thank you that means everything coming from someone with your background."
Discussing partnerships and expansion with Diego is surprisingly enjoyable. He's smart, funny, and respects me. When he asks me to lunch, I say yes right away and feel really happy about it.
Rio's POV
"Where is she?" I demand, checking my watch for the third time. It's nearly eleven PM, and Lina still isn't home.
Maria wrings her hands nervously. "Miss Salvacion called to say she's working late, sir. Another client dinner."
Another client dinner. That's the fourth time this week she's stayed out past ten, coming home exhausted and smelling like expensive restaurants and someone else's cologne. The success of her company should make me proud—after all, I created it for her. Instead, I find myself resenting every moment she spends away from the penthouse.
"Did she say when she'd be back?"
"No, sir. Just that you shouldn't wait up."
The casual dismissal stings more than it should. When did I become someone she felt the need to avoid? When did our carefully structured arrangement become so... distant?
My phone buzzes with a notification from a business blog, and my blood runs cold. It's a photo from tonight's medical technology conference—Lina in a stunning red dress, laughing at something Diego Herrera is whispering in her ear. She looks radiant, genuinely happy in a way I haven't seen her look around me in weeks.
The caption reads: "Rising stars in medical marketing: CEO Catalina Salvacion and her business partner Diego Herrera continue to dominate the industry with their innovative approach."
Business partner. The title sits wrong with me, especially given the way Diego's looking at her in the photo—like she's the most fascinating woman in the room.
"Sir?" Maria's voice breaks through my dark thoughts. "Should I prepare Miss Salvacion's usual tea for when she returns?"
"No," I say curtly. "Don't wait up for her."
But as I head to my home office to lose myself in work, I know I'll be listening for the sound of her key in the door, wondering why her absence affects me more than her presence ever did.
Lina's POV
I don't get home until after midnight, my feet aching from the designer heels. Marcus and his security team escort me to the penthouse elevator, where David carries my briefcase and purse while Antonio ensures the elevator is secure. It's been a chaotic day of back-to-back meetings, pitches, and deal-making that could catapult my business into the global market in record time.
"Thank you, Marcus," I say as we reach my floor. "Same time tomorrow morning?"
"Of course, Miss Salvacion. We'll be ready at seven AM sharp for your breakfast meeting downtown."
The penthouse is dark except for a single light in Rio's office. I saw Rio's shadowy figure through the frosted glass, bent over his computer. For a moment, I think about knocking, sharing my news, and excitement about the company's rapid growth and global prospects.
But I recall how Rio coldly handed me the company, making it clear it was just a business deal to keep me at arm's length. My work life is great, I'm respected and valued. But my personal life with Rio is totally different.
I sneak into my room, trying not to disturb Rio, who's made it obvious he'd rather I wasn't around.
Without me noticing, Rio watches my reflection in the window. He sees how confidently I walk and how my security team respects me, showing that I've become a strong CEO. He watches Marcus bid me goodnight with professional respect, sees David carefully set down my belongings, observes the entire choreographed routine of my new high-powered life.
What I don't know is that my growing independence and success—complete with the security team, personal staff, and luxury lifestyle he provided—are slowly killing him with regret he's too proud to acknowledge.
Rio's POV
The next morning, I emerge from my bedroom to find the penthouse empty except for Maria preparing breakfast. Through the windows, I can see the black Mercedes convoy already gone from the parking garage below.
"Miss Salvacion left at six-thirty this morning, sir," Maria informs me when she notices my searching glance. "Isabella called to confirm her early meeting with the Japanese medical device consortium. Marcus and the security team picked her up as scheduled."
I pour myself coffee and stare out at the city, where somewhere in a gleaming office building, Lina is commanding boardrooms and building an empire with the infrastructure I provided. The irony isn't lost on me—I gave her everything she needed to become independent of me, and now I'm paying the price for that success.
My phone buzzes with another notification from a business blog. This time it's a picture from last night's medical technology conference. Lina is wearing a beautiful navy blue dress and is surrounded by her bodyguards as she gets out of her Mercedes. She looks like a powerful CEO. Diego Herrera is in the background, but what really stands out is how confident Lina looks. She naturally gets people's attention and respect.
The caption reads: "CEO Catalina Salvacion continues to dominate the medical marketing landscape. Industry insiders speculate about potential international expansion following her meetings with European partners."
She's building something magnificent with the resources I gave her, and I should be proud. Instead, I find myself resenting every success that takes her further away from needing me, from the woman who used to look at me with hope instead of professional courtesy.
I've created a monster of my own making—a successful, independent woman who no longer requires my presence for anything beyond our public appearances. And the worst part? I have no one to blame but myself.